Meet Sandra Keir

I was born with a moderate hearing loss to hearing parents. This was noted when I was 18 months old. My father had rubella on the Islands in Borneo when he was in the WW11.

I was fitted with a hearing aid at the age of two years, and had intensive speech therapy until I was five years old.

At the age of 35 after having given birth to two girls, my hearing loss was noted to be at significantly low levels. I discovered that it was common to lose some hearing giving birth to children.

In 2000 I met and married my husband Alan, who since 1996, already had a cochlear implant, I then met many more implantees and saw how successful they were in their journey back to hearing.

From here I underwent an assessment in 2002 to determine if I was suitable for implantation and the results came back positive.

After the operation and the following switch on, I was able to hear immediately. This was due in large part to a great deal of support I received from my husband and family. I still wear a Hearing Aid in the right ear.

My father was the 8th person to have the cochlear implant 23 years ago by Professor Graeme Clarke.

I can still lip read as this was my main communication before the implant, can use the phone and love listen to music.

To be able to sit in on meetings and to be able to listen to other people speak is clear and precise. Most of the time the rooms are fitted with a loop system in which we can pick up via our T Switch on our processor and hearing aid. The sounds are more sharp and clear.

The enjoyment of discovering new sounds each day, is exciting and fun, and the learning continue to this day.

I am involved in many Deaf and Hearing Impaired organizations, including the Cochlear Awareness Network, a volunteer organization of Cochlear Implant recipients who tell people their story of their journey back to sound.

I love giving talks about Cochlear Implants.

I also support many people who have chosen to have a cochlear implant, and by guiding and supporting them throughout the process